DISEASES OF THE DAIRY COW

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 62, 4 September 1911, Page 3

DISEASES OF THE DAIRY COW

j PREVENTION AND CL'ltE. j < . The, dairy cow is an important unit | jin the prosperity not only of the individual farmer ibut also of the whole community of Turanaki, and 'New Z;Vila ml generally. With the prospect of big prices for dairy produce, there has been a corresponding increase in the value of the dairy cow. and sales have been recorded lately when as much as £2.t has been given for good dairy cows, not of any fashionable breed. It can readily be understood that any disease that affects the cow must be pecuniarily fell, by the individual. As a matter of fact, many thousands of pounds are lost annually to farmers through cattle -dying as the result of diseases, a loss which, with ordinary care, would be avoided. Recently the Government appointed Mr. George Broom, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, to 'be veterinary surgeon here, and his services will be at the disposal of farmers and stock-owners generally. At this particular season <xf the year cattle are' liable to contract certain diseases, which | make their appearance at the time of, parturition; and as many farmers are' perhaps ignorant of the nature of the diseases, a representative of the News ■ waited on Mr. Broom and obtained some useful information, which it would certainly pay dairymen to file for future reference. The first disease touched on , was SEPTIC METRITIS. A farmer might say: "Oh, my cows will never get this," but, as a matter of fact, Mr. Broom says that very many, cows die annually by its ravages, and already this year there have been sev-, eral serious outbreaks in different parts of Ta.ranaki. Like many other diseases among cattle, it can be prevented if or-' care and cleanliness are shown. It is brought on by insanitary conditions and infection from other diseased cows. In simple language, it is inflammation of the womb, caused by the entrance of j septic or poisonous disease germs into • Hie womb. I

ITS SYMPTOMS. | The disease generally makes its appearance a day or two after calving, and ' usually feverish symptoms are noticeable, viz., listlessness and loss of appetite. Later on the vulva appears slight- j ly swollen, the cow frequently strains and discharges a brownish colored li- j quid, which creates a filthy deposit on the tail and buttocks. As is usual under feverish conditions, there is a certain amount of constipation. The milk sup- j ply diminishes very much, and, indeed,' often entirely ceases. The animal moves ■ with a very stiff gait. Later on she loses power in her limbs, and can only j be got on to her feet with difficulty. A ' state of semi consi-iousness follows, which j may be only noticeable at times, coupled with evidences of great suffering, and when the disease reaches this stage death is almost certain to ensue. Farmers, often confuse this disease with milk! fever, which some of its symptoms resemble. notably the semi-conscious con-! dition and the absence of milk from the udder. Needless to say. the treatment i recommended for milk fever is quite 1 ineffectual with the disease now under discussion. An unmistakable symptom of septic metritis is the discharge from the womb. Its progress, moreover, is much slower than that of milk fever.; In the latter the cow may appear in perfect health, but a few hours later it is down and quite unconscious, whereas in sisptic metritis it is generally two or , three days before the animal arrives at . the semi-conscious state, CAIVK AND PREVENTION.

Serious outbreaks of the disease are t nearly always found associated with f dirty sheds and yards, where no precnu- < lions are taken as to the cleansing and ( disinfection of the yards and ;bai!s. I When a, cow is taken ill, or the pres- I cnce of the disease is even suspected, it. 1 is imperatively necessary to immediately, I isolate the cow from the rest of the 1 herd, and to thoroughly wa.sh down 1 with disinfectant* any part of the shed i which the cow may by any chance have ; fouled with its discharges. After treat- j ing a diseased animal it would be a very foolish thing for any person to assist with any oilier newly-calved cow with- • out having thoroughly disinfected llim-; self; otherwise lie would be almost sure to transmit the disea.se to the healthy cow. In the case of yards that cannot be thoroughly cleansed, in the event ot ah outbreak, the best plan is to make . a temporary yard and bails out in the open on a clean piece of ground, and . there milk the balance of the cows as ! (.hey come in. keeping them out of the ' infected area for twenty-one days, when ' it would be safe to return them to the old yard. Where the shed is arranged w that the walls are easily cleaned, the ' drainage i- good, and the doors of the sheds ami yards are of concrete, one. seldom sees a case of septic metritis. All deca\ ing animal or vegetable mat-! ter should be deposited safely, where I newlv-calved cattle—or, for that matter, | any cattle—cannot come in contact with it, as the organisms of decomposition are liaible to >et up this disease. TIIKATM KNT OF THE DISEASE. Absolute cleaiiline>s, as lias been mentioned. is the lirst essential. An aperient is in all eases necessary. For this a dose of ICpfom salts, 8, 10 or 12 ounces, I according to the constitution of the j cow. and repeated next day if necessary, j This both acts as a laxative and fever- i reducer. The womb must be freely irrigated by means of a funnel and tubing |

similar to that used in cases of contagious abortion. I'se water at blood beat, to which a little disinfectant,, such as .leyes' llu'ul, has been added, say, one, tablespoonfiil to a bucketful of water, and utilise the lot. The irrigation should be performed twice the first day, and once each succeeding day until the cow shows signs of improvement. The tail and buttocks should lie well washed with a stronger solution of the same lluid. Strict attention to these instructions will probably cheek an outbreak, and will certainly prevent its spread through the herd. Precautions should, of course, be taken to keep the animal warm and dry. but it. is perhaps hardly necessary to inform dairy farmers of this fact. Other diseases will be treated in future, issues.